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The Korean War ended 64 years ago last week. A St. Louisan and war veteran reflects.

Leonard Adreon, 90, is Korean War veteran and St. Louisan who kept his story of service as a Marine Corpsman during the war under wraps for 60 years. He's now shared his personal reflections on "America's forgotten war," in a memoir titled "Hilltop Doc."
Kelly Moffitt | St. Louis Public Radio
Leonard Adreon, 90, is Korean War veteran and St. Louisan who kept his story of service as a Marine Corpsman during the war under wraps for 60 years. He's now shared his personal reflections on "America's forgotten war," in a memoir titled "Hilltop Doc."

Last week marked the 64th anniversary of the end of the Korean War. St. Louisan and Korean War veteran Leonard Adreon recently published a memoir reflecting on his participation in America’s “forgotten war" as a Marine Corpsman, providing medical aid in battle. 

"I didn't get used to it, but we were there and we had no choice and we had to do our job," said Adreon of treating his fellow soldiers on a chaotic battlefield.

He waited some 60 years to share his story, not even discussing it with his wife, but decided to do so after he began facilitating lifelong learning writing classes at Washington University.

He said that many people today do not understand the Korean War and its ramifications. Many others don't understand the reality of the chaos of war. Adreon wanted his memoir to accurately reflect both.

The resulting book is titled "Hilltop Doc: A Marine Corpsman Fighting Through the Mud and Blood of the Korean War.” 

Adreon joined St. Louis on the Air host Don Marsh to discuss the book and his reflections on the war on Tuesday:

St. Louis on the Air brings you the stories of St. Louis and the people who live, work and create in our region. St. Louis on the Air host Don Marsh and producers Mary EdwardsAlex Heuer and Kelly Moffitt give you the information you need to make informed decisions and stay in touch with our diverse and vibrant St. Louis region. 

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Kelly Moffitt joined St. Louis Public Radio in 2015 as an online producer for St. Louis Public Radio's talk shows St. Louis on the Air.